- "I've never really been able to do anything at times like these. But somebody once told me my smile has the power to give others strength. Now, I don't know how much strength I can give you, but...I want to be your strength."—Serena
Japanese Title: Satoshi and Serena! Catch One at the Dance Party!!
Original Airdate: January 28, 2016
US Airdate: May 7, 2016
The first evidence of the latest Eeveelution.
Monsieur Pierre has invited all the Kalos Performers to a ball at his mansion, ratcheting up the romantic tension between Ash and Serena. Further complication comes when the ball ends with a battle, where Ash and Serena are drawn to battle Miette and James. Eevee will have to find new depths of strength to come through for her trainer and Pikachu.
This episode contains examples of the following tropes:
- Bad Date: Ash ends up accepting Miette's request to be her date, but is soon exasperated by helping Miette pick out which dress to wear and is fairly uncomfortable with his own outfit (although this is mainly due to him not being accustomed to dressing formally). Not helping matters is that Ash is an extremely clumsy dancer (at least until Aria gives him pointers), causing him and Miette to accidentally bump heads.
- Ballroom Blitz: Ash and Serena end up in a tag battle against Miette and James. They were chosen via the cards they drew at the registration desk.
- Call-Back: When Serena gives Eevee a pep talk, the camera shows Aria when Serena says someone once told her that her smile can help give strength.
- Clingy Jealous Girl: It's bad enough that for her Eevee's sake Serena couldn't get Ash as an escort, but then Miette had to show up and request Ash to be her escort. Serena looks really, really steamed, and Miette milks the situation for all it's worth.
- Contrived Coincidence: When it comes down to it, the tag battle is Ash and Serena versus Miette (the series' Love Triangle, kinda) and James, with the latter even wondering how he got roped into the whole thing in the first place.James: With so many people here, I'm battling twerps?!
- Crouching Moron, Hidden Badass: James, when paired up with Miette, forms a surprisingly good team strategy, with Inkay and Slurpuff handing Eevee and Pikachu a Curbstomp Battle. Had it not been for Eevee evolving into Sylveon, they almost certainly would have won.
- Curbstomp Battle: Zigzagged during the ballroom match. Pikachu and Eevee are demolished by Inkay and Slurpuff at first, though the tables turn completely when Eevee evolves. Somewhat justified as the evolution of Sylveon reversed a type disadvantage Eevee had to Inkay.
- Dances and Balls: A gigantic formal costume ball (not a Masquerade Ball, just full dress; they offered outfits for all the participants) held for the current Performance contestants and their guests.
- Easter Egg: Look carefully at the sequence at the dressing room where the Performers pick their dresses.note
- Empathy Pet: Inkay and Gourgeist imitate their trainers throughout the episode. They even dance with each other during the ball.
- Even the Dog Is Ashamed: After James loses the tag battle with Miette against Ash and Serena, Wobbuffet looks particularly non-plussed when he returns to Jessie.
- Go-Karting with Bowser: Jessie pays no heed to Meowth's suggestion that they use the Ball to catch Pikachu, her only interest being making an impression on her fellow partygoers.
- Irony: James finds it ironic that he ends up, purely by luck, battling the twerps at the Ball.
- Laugh of Love: Serena mentally chuckles nervously while thinking of dancing with Ash.
- Loner-Turned-Friend: Serena worries about Eevee when the Ball moves to a Circle Dance, where participants switch partners frequently. She looks back at the Pokémon circle, and sees her dancing happily with a Furret.
- Pimped-Out Dress: Miette's blue dress has a blouse with a green gem and a large skirt that reaches all the way down the floor. With the coat creating layers, it has an underskirt and a flounce.
- The Power of Love: Clemont tells Serena that an Eevee has to have a very close bond to their trainer to evolve into a Sylveon. The Pokédex says a Sylveon typically wraps its feelers around its trainer's hand if they walk together.
- Redemption Promotion: James with Inkay, as a result of both legitimate fighting ground and Miette's better team planning, is portrayed as thoroughly dominant against Ash's Pikachu and Serena's Eevee for most of the battle, only losing when Eevee evolves into Sylveon, a type advantage.
- Security Cling: Slurpuff and Inkay hold on to each other when they find themselves facing Sylveon's Fairy Wind.
- Sucks at Dancing: Jessie starts off majestic, until her delusions of grandeur lead her to dance like a madwoman. Ash in contrast starts this way, but after some pointers from Aria, he improves. James is okay away from Jessie. Among the Pokémon, Pikachu has issues dancing with Miette's Slurpuff.
- Theme Song Power Up: As usual, the Japanese version plays Serena's theme, "Dreamdream" as Eevee evolves and cleans house.
- This Is Gonna Suck: When Eevee evolves into Sylveon, James knows a loss is coming and lamely orders Inkay to use Tackle with all the resignation that his impending loss demands.
- Took a Level in Badass: Eevee after evolving into Sylveon. Even beforehand she is portrayed as becoming more confident throughout the ball.
- Yank the Dog's Chain: Just as it looks like Serena will get to dance with Ash, the dance number ends. Her reaction is one of utter exasperation.
